Murudeshwara Temple, Murdeshwar, Karnataka

© Amith Nag Photography/Getty Image

A divine night. Murudeshwara Temple, Murdeshwar, Karnataka

Welcome to the coastal town of Murdeshwar in Karnataka's North Canara district, right along the Laccadive Sea. The town's star attraction is the magnificent Murudeshwara temple, perched atop Kanduka Hill, seen in today's image. Built in 2008, this temple is constructed in the classic Dravidian architectural style and features Chalukya and Kadamba sculptures. It houses a lift that gives visitors a breathtaking view of the towering 37-metre Shiva statue, which is the third tallest in the world. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the primary deity here, Sri Mridesa Linga, also known as Murudeshwara, is believed to be a fragment of the original Atma Linga. It rests about 60 centimetres below the ground. Flanked by two life-sized concrete elephants, the temple complex, including the impressive 20-storey, over 60-metre-tall Raja Gopura, is among the tallest in the region—truly a sight to behold!